Amgen expands biosimilars programme

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Amgen expands biosimilars programme

Biosimilars/News | Posted 28/11/2014 0 Post your comment

Biologicals major Amgen is expanding its biosimilars portfolio to include nine different molecules.

According to Mr Scott Foraker, Vice President and General Manager of biosimilars at Amgen, biosimilars are a good strategic fit for the company. They represent a compelling growth opportunity with the new portfolio of nine biosimilars having the potential to deliver more than US$3 billion in annual revenues.

Amgen is already developing biosimilars for cancer treatments: Avastin (bevacizumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab), Rituxan/MabThera (rituximab) from Roche and Erbitux (cetuximab) from Eli Lilly; for arthritis and Crohn’s disease treatments: Humira (adalimumab) from AbbVie and Remicade (infliximab) from Johnson & Johnson. In addition to the existing six biosimilar programmes [2], Amgen has also initiated three additional biosimilar programmes, bringing its total biosimilar programmes to nine.

Amgen is carrying out a global phase III clinical trial to evaluate the pharmacokinetic similarity of its biosimilar rituximab (ABP 798) compared to Roche’s blockbuster arthritis/non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma drug MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) [1]. The company has reported positive results from a phase III study of its adalimumab biosimilar (ABP 501) compared with Humira (adalimumab) [3].

Amgen expects to launch its first biosimilar in 2017, followed by four others through 2019.

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Amgen starts phase III trial for biosimilar rituximab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Nov 28]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Amgen-starts-phase-III-trial-for-biosimilar-rituximab
2. Derbyshire M. Biosimilars collaboration at Amgen and Actavis. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2014;3(3):155-6. doi:10.5639/gabij.2014.0303.035
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Phase III study of biosimilar adalimumab meets primary endpoint [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Nov 28]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/Research/Phase-III-study-of-biosimilar-adalimumab-meets-primary-endpoint

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Source: Amgen